Body image – Spartan Newsroomhttp://news.jrn.msu.edu
News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of JournalismWed, 21 Feb 2018 22:01:27 +0000en-UShourly1Does makeup have diversity?http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/does-makeup-have-diversity/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:24:27 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=349235EAST LANSING, Michigan — For years, men and women have struggled with the idea of finding the right shade of beauty for their skin and having it fit to their complexion and skin type.

There has always been a debate between drugstore makeup companies like Maybelline and Covergirl compared to high-brand cosmetic companies like Urban Decay and Rihanna’s new line “Fenty Beauty.”

Christopher George, who works at Sephora in Lansing and is responsible for matching customers to the right type of makeup for their skin type, said, “Many people have said that the difference between drugstore and Sephora is the quality. Though that may be true, it’s probably just based on their skin type.”

Skin type is different for every person. One can be oily and one can be dry. No one has the same skin type — just like no one has the same skin color.

Many women have had issues with the diversity of makeup throughout the entire world. Some brands, like Maybelline’s FitMe Campaign, focuses on a wide range of different skin tones and making it cheap and affordable. For the more expensive brands, the range of skin tones has been the same.

Katie McCoy

Fenty Beauty has broken diversity stereotypes by debuting 40 shades of skin tones –more than the average for drug store makeup.

Fenty beauty has released 40 different shades of foundation. According to USAToday, this is the largest range of shades in a makeup brand ever.

“The exciting thing about this Fenty,” said George, “is that everyone can feel included.”

Emmen Ahmed, a frequent cosmetic user, tried Fenty Beauty and compared it to her other makeup brands.

“The [bad] quality of this makeup is not what I expected,” she said. “However, the fact that I found my perfect shade is wonderful.”

Ahmed said she has never found a shade that has been so perfect until Fenty Beauty.

“I have tried so many different foundations but there’s always something off about the color,” she said.

The lack of diversity in the cosmetic world has changed over the last couple years. Some companies have not included darker shades. Maybelline’s BB Cream discontinued their darkest shade.

“It’s important to include more colors and shades I think,” George said. “Growing up in a very diverse community, I had friends that struggled with feeling included because the fair skin people could find makeup easier and the darker skinned people would not be so lucky.”

The beauty industry has struggled with including individuals with darker skin tones. The release of Fenty Beauty is inclusive enough for everyone of any skin tone to buy and fit, even albino skin tone. However, each bottle is 32 dollars. The size of a Fenty Beauty bottle is the same ounces as a bottle from a company like Urban Decay, L’Oreal and Too Faced.

Cierra Banks, a junior political science student at Michigan State, complains about inclusive makeup being so expensive.

“Being poor for a college girl is a struggle,” she said, “because you are going through beauty changes as you transition to an adult and you can’t always get and afford the expensive makeup. I think I make decent money and I balance my time. I deserve to look pretty once in awhile.”

She struggles with the right beauty product because the price is always the definitive factor.

Katie McCoy

Many hope that more makeup companies will start selling more makeup shades for the various skin types and colors.

“The one time I find a makeup that’s not cheap, it really fits my skin tone and works with my oily skin is super expensive and I can’t afford it,” she said.

Banks and Ahmed agree that drug store makeup needs to be more inclusive for more people to be able to purchase.

“It’s such a problem,” said George. “Yes, I love a good makeup line, but making it affordable is a struggle.”

]]>Q & A about fluid fashion with Rebecca Schuilinghttp://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/q-a-about-fluid-fashion-with-rebecca-schuiling/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:12:28 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=349283EAST LANSING, Michigan — Men and women’s fashion has had distinguishable characteristics according to how one separates between genders.

Men’s fashion has been known to have more masculine characteristics — structured bottoms and tops. Women’s fashion has a more feminine touch with loose fitting pieces that emphasize a female approach.

Androgynous fashion is clothing that can be worn by both men and women.

Recently, fashion has been blurring the lines between what is considered “gender specific.”

The Spartan Newsroom interviewed an individual who has opinions about what gender fluidity actually means to them and what is to come of androgynous fashion:

Courtesty of Rebecca Schuiling

Photo/Selfie courtesy of Rebecca Schuiling.

What do you do at MSU?

REBECCA SCHUILING: I am an Academic Specialist in the Apparel and Textile Design program, within the Art, Art History, and Design Department. I teach Fashion Illustration, Fashion Collection Building, and Knitwear Design.

How would you describe androgynous fashion?

REBECCA SCHUILING: Clothing is semiotics. It is a way to communicate who we are.To me, androgynous fashion means freedom to choose what you want to wear and how you want to present yourself.

How has it changed throughout time?

REBECCA SCHUILING: Historically, in Western society, hosiery was worn by aristocratic men, as were heels.Men’s fashions became much more uniform (jacket, pant, shirt) in the 19th century. Certain items of clothing were then deemed “feminine”, skirts, hosiery etc.

Courtesy of Rebecca Schuiling

Drawing, courtesy of Rebecca Schuiling. She believes that androgynous fashion is the strongest frontier that fashion has had in years.

Do you support gender bending fashion? Why or why not?

REBECCA SCHUILING: Absolutely. I think it’s very important that we think critically about dress, and question why one group would be “allowed” to wear something, while another group is not. Hopefully we are moving as a society to a greater spirit of diversity and inclusion.

Do you have favorite designers or pieces that stand out to you when you think of androgynous fashion?

REBECCA SCHUILING: Just to name a few, Thom Brown has a recent interesting collection. Versace did an interesting collection that focused on the huge athletic wear trend – it had leggings for men. Obviously there are hundreds and hundreds of designers focusing on androgyny or inter-gender. In popular culture, there are other icons of style David Bowie, Grace Jones. Movies, such as Annie Hall. Fashion revolutions- the Peacock Revolution, Space Age Designers- Andre Courreges. Designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, etc.

What do you think the future for androgynous fashion is?

REBECCA SCHUILING: As far as the future goes, I think we will continue to see a lot with the athleisure/comfort clothing movement. With that, I think there will be a lot of development in tech fabrics etc., and within that I think there will be a lot of gender neutrality/unisex/inter- gender clothing.

Kierra: I just wanted my body to be shaped differently. I don’t have anything against plastic surgery as long as it’s not a life threatening procedure or an excessive amount of surgeries because some people get addicted to

Starria: How did you prepare mentally, financially and physically?

Kierra: I prepared mentally by doing a ton of research. On surgeons and patient reviews. I educated myself on every possible outcome and weighed it against factors such as my age, health, etc. Financially, I just saved up. Physically, I started taking vitamins, didn’t consume alcohol for a month before and stopped taking any unnecessary medications like birth control, Tylenol, etc. and followed the pre-op instructions.

Starria: What inspired you to start YouTube channel during this time?

Kierra: I started the YouTube because when I was doing research there were every few vlogs about i️t. People like to keep i️t secret, but I wanted others to be able to follow my journey if they were thinking about it.

Starria: What advice would you give to someone interested in getting a BBL?

Kierra: Advice I would give would be to do your research. Don’t choose a surgeon based on price. Make sure they’re board certified because a lot of people perform the procedure and they’re dermatologist regular physicians etc and you can have a bunch of complicated if they’re not board certified. It’s just not safe. Also look at the patient reviews for their doctor so they can follow real stories.

Starria: How was your self esteem affected through the process?

Kierra: I never really had a low self esteem. I think of anything this will boost i️t even more.

If you’re interested in getting a BBL or know someone who’s about to get one, below is a before and after checklist suggested by Westbrooks.

This video was recently posted to Westbrooks’ YouTube channel. Click below to find out more from the source herself.

]]>The peaks and pits of body image and pregnancyhttp://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/the-peaks-and-pits-of-body-image-and-pregnancy/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 19:56:48 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=350786Pregnancy is an experience that changes women’s lives, and their bodies.

What is often the happiest time of one’s life also entails body image struggles. While also dealing with new hormonal changes throughout their nine month term, pregnancy can be overwhelming.

Research shows that women’s insecurities increase not only throughout pregnancy, but up to nine months postpartum. This caused women to gain more weight, have worsened mental health and lack in their relationships with friends and family.

Madison Gabriel knows how familiar these feelings are, as she is the mother of two children. Since she was a young mom, many of the changes she was experiencing during pregnancy made her feel alone.

“During pregnancy, you expect yourself to get bigger. Some women barely gain any weight and some women gain half their body weight. The hardest thing is wondering what you’re going to look like after you give birth,” Gabriel said.

“Are the stretch marks going to fade, are the love handles going to go away, are you going to lose that extra fat on your thighs? I lost all of my baby weight plus some, but my body doesn’t look the same and I know it never will and that’s something I struggle with daily because at 21, most girls don’t have kids and their bodies are in their prime.”

In a study published in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal, researchers found that women’s risk of depression increases substantially during the second and third trimesters.

Gabriel said that oftentimes people don’t realize the internal struggles women are dealing with during pregnancy. Since it’s a time that women are expected to have that ‘pregnancy glow,’ there can be guilt that comes with feeling unhappy.

“I think that people who have never been pregnant don’t know the emotional roller coaster that women face. This world has become such a judgmental place that being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world because everyone scrutinizes moms,” Gabriel said.

“You have nine months to think of what life is going to be like now that you’re responsible for another human being. That thought in itself is terrifying. So with me being a young first time mom, I struggled because everyone expected me to be a bad mom because I was so young.”

One reason Gabriel believes women face postpartum depression is due to the stigma of new moms leaving their baby’s side. Gabriel said at times she felt afraid to have a social life and noticed the effects it was having on her mental health.

“When a mom wants to go out and take a break for a few hours, people lose their minds. But it is necessary to get a few hours to yourself – it’s healthy,” Gabriel said. “I didn’t realize by not taking time for myself it caused a lot of emotional and mental damage. Sometimes even going to the store by yourself is the kind of break you need.”

Now that she’s gone through two pregnancies, Gabriel knows the reality of pregnancy, and it’s much more than people think.

“Pregnancy is more than cravings and that cute baby bump. It’s morning sickness for the first 12 weeks, being so ridiculously tired you wake up thinking about going to bed, stressing about whether you’re giving your baby proper nutrients, stressing about stressing too much and harming the baby, and struggling to sleep at night because you can’t get comfortable,” Gabriel said.

“Pregnancy in general is such a weight on your shoulders, but not in a bad way. It’s a challenge but you get through it and get something absolutely amazing out of it, so it’s all worth it in the end.”

Alina Zhuravel is a sophomore at Michigan State and is a part of the sorority Chi Omega. I talked with Alina because I wanted to explore the ins and outs of the possible stigmas when being a part of Greek Life.

This could include the persona that many may give off to outsiders, style and “looks” they’re expected to keep up with, if they feel pressure along with it, and why these things play a factor in Greek life.

1. Why did you decide to join Greek Life?

I honestly decided to join Greek life because of the movie “Legally Blonde.” Elle Woods was bold, smart and motivated to become a lawyer. Throughout her journey, her sorority sisters were by her side. She gave me a positive view on a sorority girl. I also love how being in Greek life makes a college campus so much smaller. For example, if I sit in class next to someone wearing their letters, we instantly have something to talk about. Lastly, I’m proud to be a part of all the philanthropy work that Greek life does.

2. What are the different stigmas that come along with being in Greek Life?

The only one I hear is that there is a lot of partying.

3. Do you ever feel there’s a certain way you constantly have to present yourself just because you’re in a sorority?

Personally, I do try to represent myself as best as possible but that has nothing to do with my sorority. It is just how I am.

4. What types of pressures do you ever feel on a daily basis?

Chi Omega sorority house, courtesy of Alina Zhuravel.

Freshman year, I felt more pressured to go out than if I was not in a sorority. This is because I was so excited about the opportunities I had to meet so many different people and create memories. I definitely had to learn time management in this situation. Since I am a sophomore now, I feel better saying no to things when I know I need to study or if I’d rather just stay in. However, I still do love going out and meeting new people.

5. Do you ever feel like you’re in a competition with the other girls in your sorority and there’s a certain criteria you have to live up to?

I never feel like I am in competition with anyone.

6. What’s one thing you wish you could change about the way those not in a sorority/fraternity view Greek life?

One thing I wish I could change about how people who Greek life is the stigma that all we do is go out and never study. In my sorority, there is a scholarship where all your dues are paid for if you get a 4.0 GPA. Each semester, there are many girls who achieve this. When people hear that academics are celebrated in Greek life, they tend to change their beliefs on this stereotype.

7. Why do you think sorority girls dressing similar is so prevalent in Greek Life? Do you ever wish there was more uniqueness spread throughout?

I think sorority girls dress similarly because it establishes unity. It also makes for cute Instagram pictures. I definitely do wish there was more uniqueness but I never feel pressured to dress a certain way. If I wanted to wear something different, I could confidently do it.

]]>Stretch marks: Why are they such a big deal?http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/stretch-marks-why-are-they-such-a-big-deal/
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/stretch-marks-why-are-they-such-a-big-deal/#commentsWed, 13 Dec 2017 18:15:28 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=353356According to a Kids Health article, stretch marks produce when the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching. They are a natural phenomena that happens over time to everyone, no matter what shape or size you are, and there’s really no stopping them from appearing. If this is the case, why are they made to be such a big deal when they appear?

Michigan State dietetics junior Valerie Wolfe said she thinks stretch marks are seen as a negative trait due to society’s views on beauty.

Kayla Robinson

Michigan State Dietetics junior, Valerie Wolfe.

“I remember as a kid, I felt so self conscious of my stretch marks because all of my friends were skinny and didn’t have any,” Wolfe said. “It took until almost around college to realize that they’re pretty natural and anyone can get them.”

The drive to get rid of stretch marks at all costs has gone so far that drug stores even have creams available that are marketed to help get rid of them. These creams include Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy and many more.

Michigan State applied engineering junior Diana Bucan used to own her own stretch mark cream, but eventually threw it out and said they should not even be offered to consumers.

“All these creams are doing is feeding off of insecurities and giving companies more power and opportunity to use those insecurities as a means of making money,” Bucan said.

Wolfe said enhancements such as these can sometimes lead to people getting too carried away.

“I love wearing makeup for certain events, but it’s hard to get out of the mindset that it’s a necessity,” Wolfe said. “We all have our insecurities, and things like makeup and hair products just allow us to ignore them.”

So what’s the solution to having these types of products available to the public? Should they be on the market or should society start accepting their flaws for what they are?

Bucan said people should be able to have the choice in using whatever products make them feel better about themselves, but at the same time, beauty enhancers will always be seen as extremely controversial.

“People should be empowered by being able to do what they want with their bodies,” Bucan said. “But at the end of the day, beauty standards in general are what need to be fixed, in terms of making implications that things like stretch marks are ‘bad.’”

]]>http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/stretch-marks-why-are-they-such-a-big-deal/feed/1Social media affects millennials’ body perceptionhttp://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/social-media-affects-millennials-body-perception/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:02:54 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=353140According to a Statista survey conducted to show the amount of the U.S. population with a social media profile from 2008 to 2017, the percentage has skyrocketed from 24 percent to now 81 percent.

Social media is useful for a variety of things in our daily lives; whether it be getting in contact with someone for work or personal purposes, retrieving your news, etc. On the other hand, you also must consider how it can affect millennials, specifically teenagers, from a self-esteem perspective.

All over social media outlets such as Instagram and Snapchat, you typically see a mass amount of pictures of different socialites that are depicted as the “perfect human” – for example, fit and toned bodies, long hair on women, expensive clothes, perfect skin, etc.

High school junior Sarah Anderson says these types of people that seem to be displayed all over social media can take a toll on people’s body perception.

“Seeing that the models are all so skinny and toned makes people feel like they need to be that way, even though that it’s almost impossible,” Anderson said. “While they may have completely normal physiques, their image of themselves is damaged when they see someone so thin and ‘perfect’ looking.”

The time spent during high school is when all sorts of hormones and emotions for teenagers are going out of control. Kids at this age are exposed to many different things; this could include peer pressure and trying to fit in and be exactly like what they see the around them – and even on television or online.

High school junior Molly Sivosky said social media has played a huge role in how she perceives herself to her peers.

“I don’t necessarily present myself a certain way on the Internet to get a certain amount of likes, but seeing others present themselves to be ‘perfect’ online makes me feel like I need to change myself in everyday life; not just online,” Sivosky said. “I would say that at the end of the day, it negatively affects my view of my appearance.”

In today’s society, social media seems to have skewed away from the actual purpose it’s supposed to serve. Instead, it’s seen as an outlet used by the younger generation to display themselves in a positive light to the ones that they’re connected to on their networks. This is done in order to receive instant gratification.

Anderson said that social media damages body image and self esteem because it paints a false picture of who is considered “pretty” or “attractive.”

“It bends what it means to be beautiful into something that is not even achievable,” Anderson said. “People should value themselves by their personality and by what they think is their good traits; not by constantly comparing themselves and pining for likes.”

Young people being dependent on receiving acceptance from those around them is what leads to these issues of not being secure with themselves. They try so hard to be like what they see surrounding them that they’re inevitably not happy with the way they are.

High school junior Julian McKenzie said although trying to be like someone or something you’re not isn’t the way to approach life, there’s a positive way to possibly go about it.

“There are a few people that take it in a different direction and use it to motivate themselves,” McKenzie said. “If a person saw someone with clear skin, they could say, ‘Wow, their skin is so clear now; what can I do to make mine look like that?’”

]]>Size categories in the modeling worldhttp://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/size-categories-in-the-modeling-world/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 17:55:43 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=353106In the modeling industry, most designers make clothes in sample sizes 00 to 2, meaning they automatically expect all the models from modeling agencies to be that size. However, what happens when it comes to the models that are considered “plus sized”?

“Plus size” clothing is a term that is generally applied to an individual that is above average to larger in body size. This clothing option can be seen as very resourceful, but sometimes is given a negative stigma.

Kjerstin Gruys, assistant professor of sociology at University of Nevada, frequently explores the relationship between physical appearance and social inequality and said the titles are nothing new.

“The plus-size clothing sizes have been around for a very long time, ever since we had ready-to-wear clothing,” Gruys said. “But they weren’t called plus sized, they were called ‘stout’ women, or ‘chubby’ girls.”

Even if plus-sized women aren’t referred to by these nicknames in a professional sense anymore, they are still used in an informal way to describe them off the record and can heavily affect their self-esteem.

“The qualifications for standard sized models is so narrow,” Gruys said. “All standard sized models are in the same range of body type that is tall and extremely fit. The interesting thing about it though is that models starting at a clothing size 8 automatically get categorized in plus size.”

Shannon Grace, manager at the Torrid in Flint, Michigan, a store that

Kayla Robinson

Shannon Grace, manager at Torrid in Flint, Michigan.

specializes in plus-size clothing, said instead of only gearing towards the more petite sized models, it’s definitely beneficial to have a store that caters specifically towards women of this size.

“I feel like typically, a lot of plus-sized women don’t feel like they have a place where they can go into and have the entire store be about them,” Grace said.

Even though there are stores that exist like Torrid, Gruys also said the scale for when categorizing models into different sizes is still very narrow in general.

“I think that these labels distinguishing plus sized from standard size are problematic,” Gruys said. “Bodies exist on a size and shape spectrum. Trying to draw a line and saying everyone to the left is one thing and everyone on the right is another, has implications to it; not just psychologically, but in terms of inequality as well.”

With this, some stores are not as accommodating, like Torrid is, at making sure women of all sizes feel like they can find clothing to fit their body types. Some don’t even offer Extra Large sizes.

Kayla Robinson

Nick Waligora, store manager at Pitaya in East Lansing, Mich.

Store manager at Pitaya in East Lansing Nick Waligora said although they don’t offer the largest possible size, they still make it as manageable as they can for women of all sizes.

“I know it’s harder to find sizes that are plus-size appropriate, but a lot of our large styles are pretty flexible from the fabrications we use and the vendors we buy from,” Waligora said.

The pressure to be a certain size has even led models such as Aftyn Williams to take a break from modeling in general.

Kayla Robinson

Aftyn Williams, former model.

“Most of the discrimination happens behind closed doors where models aren’t involved; however, when I ran for Miss Teen Michigan in 2013, I knew that fitness was going to be a factor in the competition, so I dieted and exercised for two months leading up to it,” Williams said. “I dropped 15 pounds, making me a size 4; the smallest I’d been in years.”

Along with that, Williams also said she’s even experienced not feeling “small enough” to be what the modeling world ideally wants.

“When I first met with my agency in Chicago, the man had me walk for him and he took pictures of me from every angle,” Williams said. “He finished the examination by telling me that I needed to lose five inches around my waist and that he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to book me by then.’ That’s just the way it works in the modeling world and it’s not gonna change.”

]]>Can dressing to impress go too far?http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2017/12/can-dressing-to-impress-go-too-far/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 17:45:18 +0000http://news.jrn.msu.edu/?p=353062EAST LANSING, Mich. — The so-called “unwritten rule” behind nights where college students gather over drinks is that some young women tend to dress more provocatively than they do on a typical everyday basis.

About four out of five women who responded anonymously to an informal Spartan Newsroom poll said that when they go out to the bars, they generally choose their outfits with the goal of receiving attention; preferably from males.

During the entirety of a regular school week, you will typically see women in college in their comfortable sweatshirts and sweatpants; for the most part not fully caring about their appearances as much as they would for a night out. Once it’s nighttime is when the risqué outfits come into appearance. Seductive outfits come out of the closet. This could include crop tops, short skirts or shorts, and various other articles of revealing clothing choices.

Michigan State University sophomore Sarah Finegood said she puts a lot of consideration into her party outfits.

“I always decide if a certain outfit is flattering, cute, trendy and would catch the eyes of others when going out,” Finegood said.

Striving to look your very best is a normal thing to try and achieve when you go out. However, is there a line that should be drawn between dressing “too sexy?”

What type of attention is good vs. bad?

In the eyes of many women, there are certain types of attention out there that are, in fact, acceptable.

Megan Maas, assistant professor at MSU’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, believes that in any situation, despite if women are trying to impress others, they still have to dress appropriately.

“Women’s dress is always ridiculed, even if they’re not meaning to be sexy at that point in time,” Maas said. “For example, Hillary Clinton was always mocked about her pantsuits, whereas male politicians are not.”

However, certain forms of attention that lead to negative actions, such as sexual harassment, have also sometimes led to assumptions that a woman’s outfit choice plays a role on if she receives unwanted attention.

These assumptions made by many include phrases such as, “She was clearly asking for it based off of what she’s wearing.” This means that people who have this thought process believe a woman’s outfit choice is associated with the type of attention she’ll earn.

An opinion given in an anonymous survey regarding this assumption said outfits have nothing to do with this perceived problem.

“Most guys wouldn’t even recognize the effort that goes into a lot of girls’ outfits,” one respondent wrote. “I know that dressing more provocatively will probably garner more attention, but I like to do it for myself as a self-confidence boost.”

Women who go to out to the bars and engage in certain types of behavior while at these bars are far more likely to experience bar-related aggression than those that don’t, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions.

Dublin Square is a popular college bar in East Lansing. Bartender Winston Mallory said that when alcohol is brought into the picture, it plays a role in stereotypes that women are more likely to be more subjected to these aggressions by males on their nights out.

“When you’re in a bar and you’re drinking, your mind gets a little more tainted,” Mallory said. “Usually the guys are flirting, trying to get them drinks, woo them, talk to them; that’s the typical general trend that I’ll usually see.”

On the flip side, Rick’s American Cafe bartender Brooke Mullin said both women and men she notices while working will sometimes have a plan in order to receive that attention both genders are seeking.

“As a bartender, the common thing I notice between men and women is one trying to use buying a drink for the other person as a means of talking to someone,” Mullin said. “Usually a group of girls will purposely flirt with a guy for free drinks and then casually leave, or a guy and his friends will see cute girls come down so they go and buy them shots.”

Maas said it’s okay to express yourself through whatever women choose to wear, but they also have to be smart while doing so.

“Women should dress how they want because it makes them feel good,” Maas said. “But then you still have to ask yourself: Do I feel good even if no one comments on how sexy I am? Do I still feel good if I’m freezing or my feet hurt?”

When the seasons change from summer to fall, many Asian girls start their repair and whitening routine to get rid of their suntanned skin tone. However, at the same time, many American girls go to tanning stores and pay for a tan bath in order to get a beautiful, evenly honey skin.

Walk in the cosmetic stores, and many Asian girls would choose to buy lighter color foundation, which might originally be designed for white people. And many Asian celebrities love to make their skin look like white as pale. But many American celebrities tend to have darker, skin colors.

There are a large beauty standard differences between Asian girls and American girls on skin tone.

Vanessa Xie

MAC’s foundation products was designed for various skin color

So I interviewed several girls from different backgrounds about their opinion on whitening and tanning and their beauty standards for skin tone.

Vanessa Xie

Xiuyan Luo

Xiuyan Luo, Chinese, senior major in Hospitality Management

“I think tanning is interesting, I might try it in the future. I think tan is an American standard of beauty, I respect their choice. And it do really looks good on them. But I felt Asian would looks better if they have whiter skin. Maybe I was affected by Asian culture for so long, because many Chinese celebrities have very light skin color.”

“My identical skin should be smooth, poreless and even color. Of course, it would be better if the skin have lighter color.”

Vanessa Xie

These are Luo’s skincare products. From Left to Right: Express brighten serum, whitening lotion and whitening cream

Vanessa Xie

Luo working on her daily skincare routine

Cristina, MAC Sale at Macy’s

Vanessa Xie

Cristina

Vanessa Xie

Cristina was rearranging products.

“Yes, I do notice that there are some beauty standards differences between Asian girls and American girls. For example, we have many international students here who tended to like lighter shades foundations such as porcelain and etc. It’s interesting because we have a lot of culture in U.S. We have Indian clients who told us they also have same trend prefer lighter skin.”

About tanning: “I think it’s personal decisions. But I wouldn’t do anything that will sacrifice my health, it’s just not worth it. Especially, nowadays there are lots of fake tanning. You can get spray tan or self-tan lotion. So why sacrifice your health?”

“I like whatever (skin color) comes natural. I do think that you should change your skin color drastically.”

Mayuko Iwata, Japanese, junior journalism student

Vanessa Xie

Mayuko Iwata

“I like to have my skin as white, because it is easier to make up. But my skin color is already dark compared to other Asian girls.

“There are some ways to make skin lighter in Japan, such as whitening pills or whitening injection. But I don‘t like any medical methods. But I do use whitening cream.

“Actually, tanning is like an old trend in Japan. Ten years ago, many Japanese girls liked to do tanning and get really dark skin color. So it is like pretty old to me, but I do think it helps you looks healthier.

“I think it is good to get tan naturally. I just don’t like use machine because there are lots of side effects.”

Diana Stewart, Optometrist

Vanessa Xie

Diana Stewart

“I have done it (tanning) a few times in the past. It was fine, but it was so bad for your skin so I don’t want to keep doing it. Overall, it is really bad for your skin in long term and it raises lots of risks for skin cancer. So it is just not worth it.”

“People just like have darker skin, they felt they look better with a tan. People always want what you don’t have. Like if you have straight hair, you want curly hair; you have light skin, you want darker skin. That’s just how girls work.”

“Everybody has different opinion on what is the best look on them. I probably would to be tanner than I am. Because I am Hispanic, but I am so light that people won’t even know I am a Hispanic. So I felt if I was darker, I will look more than what I am.”

Gowoon Lee, Korean, senior education student

Vanessa Xie

Gowoon Lee

“I would prefer whitening. I want to tone up my skin a little bit more. So I also use some whitening BB cream or sun cream.”

“But when I wear makeup I still try to match the color of my face and neck. Because I saw some celebrities, they might have super white face but darker neck. That is not natural.”

“I might try tanning, but definitely not now. I think I need to be more brave to do that.”

“In Korea, lots of celebrities on TV shows have really light skin color. And everyone believes that is the skin color a beauty should have. But most Asians’ skin color is more like already ‘tanned.’”